Myanmar launches 1 GW solar tender

Myanmar’s Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) has issued an invitation for PV developers to submit prequalifying bids for the construction of several solar plants throughout the country, with a
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Myanmar’s Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) has issued an invitation for PV developers to submit prequalifying bids for the construction of several solar plants throughout the country, with a combined capacity of 1 GW.
The document, which was published on the MOEE’s Facebook page, states that the selected independent power producers will be awarded 20-year power purchase agreements. Overall, 30 solar facilities with capacities ranging from 30 MW to 40 MW are expected to be built through the tender.
Prospective developers will have until June 18 to submit their proposals.
According to the latest statistics from the International Renewable Energy Agency, Myanmar had cumulatively installed 88 MW of PV capacity by the end of 2019.
Off-grid solar already plays a key role in Myanmar’s electrification strategy. A number of rooftop PV arrays and minigrid projects having already been developed in rural parts of the country. However, the utility-scale solar segment has also started to take off.
This copy was amended on 25/07/20 to remove reference to Myanmar’s first utility scale solar project, the Minbu facility, as it is not clear whether the 50 MW generation capacity previously quoted by pv magazine for the project is based on direct or alternating current.

Croatia introduces provisions to tender 1 GW of solar

The Croation government has introduced a new tender scheme for renewable energy and co-generation projects, with plans to allocate around 1,075 MW of PV capacity. Overall, the government aims to assig
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The Croation government has introduced a new tender scheme for renewable energy and co-generation projects, with plans to allocate around 1,075 MW of PV capacity. Overall, the government aims to assign 2.26 GW of renewable energy capacity under the scheme, while also including other sources such as hydropower, wind, biomass, biogas, and geothermal energy.
For solar, the government has decided to allocate 210 MW for projects ranging in size from 50 kW to 500 kW, 210 MW for installations with capacities between 500 kW and 10 MW, and 625 MW for PV power plants exceeding 10 MW. Projects selected under the scheme will be awarded a feed-in price premium, which will be paid for by the power the projects generate, on top of spot market prices.
“This regulation is definitively an important step towards fulfilment goals listed in the Croatian Energy Strategy adopted in 2019,” Croatian PV expert Petar Curic told pv magazine. “This capacity would cover about 10 % of Croatian total consumption and energy would be provided when needed most – during peaks of the touristic season … but the realization of more than gigawatt PV plants will mostly depend on substantial improvements of grid capacity which is, unfortunately, overloaded.”
The government has yet to announce a timetable for the tenders, although they will be held at some point this year.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, Croatia had a total installed PV capacity of just 69 MW by the end of 2019, with only 1 MW of new annual additions. Most of its installed capacity is represented by residential and commercial PV projects. Such installations were built under the country’s expired 50 MW FIT scheme or under its net-metering regime, which has been in force since January 2019.
State-owned utility Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP Group) unveiled a plan last year to set up its solar portfolio. The company said the plan would initially lead to the construction of four PV plants with a combined capacity of 11.6 MW on several islands at a cost of around HRK80 million ($11.5 million).

Albania’s 140 MW PV tender concludes with final price of €0.02489/kWh

Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has announced the winner of the tender for the construction of a 140 MW solar power plant in the Karavasta area, in the centre of the country.
Accordin
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Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has announced the winner of the tender for the construction of a 140 MW solar power plant in the Karavasta area, in the centre of the country.
According to the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction, which assisted the Albanian government in preparing and holding the tender, French solar company Voltalia secured the project thanks to a bid of €0.02489/kWh. “This price – less than half the ceiling of €55 – confirmed the value of preparing a tender in line with international best practice,” the international lender said.
The solar park will be built on 122ha in the Divjaka municipality, in Remas, and on a further 76ha in the Fier municipality of Libofsha. The government said construction will not affect the protected Karavasta Lagoon.
Under the terms of the tender, half the energy generated by the plant will earn the awarded tariff with the remainder sold on the wholesale energy market.
The procurement exercise is the second tender for large scale solar in Albania. A previous auction, for a 100 MW solar park, was won by India Power in November 2018. Half of that project was awarded a 15-year tariff of €0.0599/kWh with the balance sold on the retail electricity market.
Albania supports rooftop PV through a net metering scheme codified in June.

Albania’s 140 MW PV tender concludes with final price of €0.02489/kWh

Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has announced the winner of the tender for the construction of a 140 MW solar power plant in the Karavasta area, in the centre of the country.
Accordin
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Albania’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy has announced the winner of the tender for the construction of a 140 MW solar power plant in the Karavasta area, in the centre of the country.
According to the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction, which assisted the Albanian government in preparing and holding the tender, French solar company Voltalia secured the project thanks to a bid of €0.02489/kWh. “This price – less than half the ceiling of €55 – confirmed the value of preparing a tender in line with international best practice,” the international lender said.
The solar park will be built on 122ha in the Divjaka municipality, in Remas, and on a further 76ha in the Fier municipality of Libofsha. The government said construction will not affect the protected Karavasta Lagoon.
Under the terms of the tender, half the energy generated by the plant will earn the awarded tariff with the remainder sold on the wholesale energy market.
The procurement exercise is the second tender for large scale solar in Albania. A previous auction, for a 100 MW solar park, was won by India Power in November 2018. Half of that project was awarded a 15-year tariff of €0.0599/kWh with the balance sold on the retail electricity market.
Albania supports rooftop PV through a net metering scheme codified in June.

Algeria plans 4 GW of solar tenders

Algeria’s minister of energy, Arkab Mohamed, has announced plans for a giant, 4 GW solar project which will be developed through annual tenders up to 2024.
The $3.2-3.6 billion Tafouk 1 solar field i
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Algeria’s minister of energy, Arkab Mohamed, has announced plans for a giant, 4 GW solar project which will be developed through annual tenders up to 2024.
The $3.2-3.6 billion Tafouk 1 solar field is expected to be tendered in five 800 MW procurement rounds, starting this year, a local source told pv magazine.
Announcing the project on May 20, Minister Mohamed said the facility is expected to create 56,000 construction jobs and 2,000 roles once operational. The sprawling project site will encompass ten administrative divisions, or wilayas, in the Hautes Plaines region of the Atlas Mountains in northern Algeria.
Local content
“Local content will be an important component in these tenders for PV modules, cables and mounting structures,” said pv magazine’s source. “This is part of [an] Algerian government strategy to create jobs and local knowhow but the imports of raw materials for module production will be granted exemptions from import duties and [given] other fiscal breaks.”
The local commentator added, several Tier 1 Chinese module manufacturers are approaching Algerian counterparts with a view to developing unbranded, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) modules in Algeria using certified bills of materials to enable competitive pricing for made-in-Algeria products. “The Algerian PV supply chain is strong enough to take up this challenge,” said the source.
The source stressed the role the government had played in enabling the Tafouk 1 scheme, by removing the decade-old “51/49 rule”, which capped overseas investment in Algerian companies at 49%. That restriction was lifted at the end of last year for renewables businesses considered non-strategic.
To-do list
The government still needs to create the conditions to encourage foreign investment in order for the 4 GW solar plan to succeed, according to pv magazine’s source, and should also establish an agency with technical and financial expertise. “This will allow the emergence of an ecosystem [which can deliver] bankable contracts, among many other legal and contractual aspects,” they said.
A document recently published by the Algerian Electricity and Gas Regulation Commission predicted the domestic module industry would have reached 500 MW of annual production capacity in the first quarter of this year.
The Algerian government held tenders for off-grid, hybrid solar-diesel and PV projects last year. Both procurement rounds were part of the country’s plan to deploy 22 GW of clean energy generation capacity by 2030, including 13.6 GW of solar. Algeria had around 423 MW of solar generation capacity at the end of last year, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Republika Srpska launches tender for 60 MW PV project

The government of Republika Srpska has kicked off a tender for the construction of a 60 MW solar park in Bileca, in southern Bosnia.
The planned solar facility is expected to have an estimated annua
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The government of Republika Srpska has kicked off a tender for the construction of a 60 MW solar park in Bileca, in southern Bosnia.
The planned solar facility is expected to have an estimated annual production of 84 GWh. “The solar power plant will be built in the immediate vicinity of the village Skrobotno, on the right side of the Trebinje – Bileca regional road, near Bilec Lake, at a location about 1 kilometer away from the regional road,” the governent said.
Interested developers will have time until April 13 to submit their applications.
The project is likely the solar park announced by Bosnian state-owned power utility Elektroprivreda Republike Srpske (ERS) in late January, which is also located in Bileca.
ERS is the second-largest power utility in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The company currently owns and operates a 300 MW coal-fired power plant in Ugljevik, Republika Srpska, as well as other hydroelectric power plants.

Kenyan utility launches tender for PV panel factory

State-owned utility Kenya Electricity Generating Company plc has launched a tender for construction of a 10 MW solar module factory at its Tana Power Station in Murang’a county.
The successful develo
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State-owned utility Kenya Electricity Generating Company plc has launched a tender for construction of a 10 MW solar module factory at its Tana Power Station in Murang’a county.
The successful developer will have to provide everything from project design to raw materials at the site, which comprises a warehouse at the 20 MW Tana hydroelectric plant.
Bids to develop the facility can be lodged until April 20.
The utility is planning a 40 WM solar power plant in Embu County and it is unclear whether the modules produced at the planned fab would be used for that project.
In September 2017, Kenya’s Energy Regulatory Commission launched an initiative to assess the status of solar in Kenya, establish the nation’s installed solar generation capacity, identify factors hindering uptake and recommend measures to enhance PV use. With solar deployment sluggish, the government has been criticized for not giving priority to the technology.

Etihad Rail awards the locomotive contract

Etihad Rail and Progress Rail Locomotive have signed a contract for the supply of 38 EMD locomotives especially designed to withstand the high temperatures and humidity of the gulf region.
Progress R
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Etihad Rail and Progress Rail Locomotive have signed a contract for the supply of 38 EMD locomotives especially designed to withstand the high temperatures and humidity of the gulf region.
Progress Rail will design, manufacture, test and ship the locomotives which will be equipped with a state-of-the-art air filtration system that filters sand from the air intake and pulse cleaning systems, ensuring effective and efficient operations while passing through desert areas.
The locomotives feature powerful motors and will be supported by advanced emission reduction technology, reducing carbon emissions by 70-80%. The locomotives are designed to haul a 100-wagon train, which can replace 5,600 on-road truck trips per day.
The agreement increases the fleet of Etihad Rail to 45 heavy 4,500 HP locomotives, which are among the most powerful locomotives in the region.
By this locomotive contract Etihad Rail is expanding its fleet to 45 locomotives, as the company currently owns 7 locomotives.
The new locomotives will increase the annual transport capacity to more than 60 million tonnes, from currently 7.2 million tonnes.
“Our advanced locomotives fleet will serve the needs of the customers of this national strategic project, which will transform the transport industry in the country and the region,” Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Chairman of Etihad Rail, said.
Since 2016, when transport services were launched, the number of truck trips was reduced by more than 1 million on the roads of Al Dhafrah, as Etihad Rail’s 7 locomotives transported up to 28 million tonnes of granulated sulphur from sources at Shah and Habshan to the processing and export point at Ruwais.
The signing of the contract follows the awarding of all civil works contracts for Stage Two of the national railway network, the launch of construction works of Package A of Stage Two, and the award of a contract to build a series of freight facilities for the rail network as well as the systems and integration contract.
Etihad Rail is committed to develop its railway network as is the main driver towards environmental sustainability and economic growth.

Bahrain metro tender to be launched in 2021

‘The tender on the first phase of Bahrain metro system is expected to be launched within the next year. According to the preliminary design, it will be similar to Dubai metro system. The prequalificat
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‘The tender on the first phase of Bahrain metro system is expected to be launched within the next year. According to the preliminary design, it will be similar to Dubai metro system. The prequalification process will take around six months,’ said Didar Dalkic, Adviser to the Bahrain Ministry of Transport, at the Middle East Rail held in Dubai, on 25-26 February 2020.
The first phase of the metro system will consist of two lines with a total length of 29 km, served by 20 stations, of which two stations will offer interchange from one line to another. The lines, which will be operated by driverless trains, are expected to be operational in 2027.
The first line, which will be served by 9 stations, would connect the Airport to Seef Mall through Airport Avenue and King Faisal Highway, the Avenues Mall, Bab Al Bahrain, and Bahrain City Center Mall. The second line will run from Juffair, a suburban neighborhood of Manama, to the educational area in Isa Town, crossing the Al Fateh Highway, diplomatic area, Bab Al Bahrain reaching to Al farooq Junction.
The two lines will be interconnected at Bab al Bahrain and al Farooq Junction stations.
The system capacity will be 43,000 passengers per hour.
According to the Ministry of Transport, the new metro system will be formed by four lines with a total length of 109 km, expected to become operational until 2055. The metro system will offer friendly-environmental transport services to country’s main economic, administrative and educational centres.
On the other hand, Bahrain is continuing the development of the railway project which will ensure transport connection to the GCC network. Called the King Hamad Causeway project, it will be linked to Saudi Arabia transport system through the Causeway, a road-rail connection spanning 50 km.
The road-railway connection will be jointly realised with Saudi Arabia. King Fahd Causeway Authority, Saudi Arabia Ministry of Transport and Bahrain Ministry of Transport are responsible for the implementation of the project.
‘We are expecting that the tender will be launched within the next 18 months to 2 years. Under the PPP project, we expect to conclude construction works contract and the operational deal,’ Didar Dalkic explained.
In October 2019, Saudi Arabia’s King Fahad Causeway Authority signed a consultancy contract with a consortium of KPMG, AECOM and CMS to develop the financial model, the required engineering specifications and design of the King Hamad Causeway road-rail project.
The tender on the project would be launched next year. The King Hamad Causeway project is estimated at USD 3.5 billion and it is expected that the construction works will take three years to be completed.
The Project consists of a 25-km road and rail offshore section adjacent to the existing causeway and a further 25-km rail section only which is predominantly in KSA connecting to the existing Dammam to Al Hofuf line and with a short section inside Bahrain connecting to the proposed King Hamad International Terminal at Ramli area.

Tanzania to announce tender for Rwanda and Congo SGR connection

The Chief Spokesperson of Tanzanian Government, Hassan Abbasi, has recently announced that the Standard Gauge Railway project continues and soon will launch international tender procedure for the cons
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The Chief Spokesperson of Tanzanian Government, Hassan Abbasi, has recently announced that the Standard Gauge Railway project continues and soon will launch international tender procedure for the construction of Isaka – Mwanza line.
The new railway connection will have a length of 249 km and it would start from Isaka dry port to the neighbouring countries of Rwanda and Congo.
Currently, the feasibility studies for the standard line to Rwanda have already been undertaken and the two countries are seeking financing sources.
Tanzania has a USD 14 billion strategy to build standard gauge railway lines across the country, serving main industrial areas, important cities and ports. The plans call for the construction of a SGR network linking Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Kigoma, Katavi and neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Burundi, and DRC.
The SGR network will be implemented within five phases covering 1,219 km long main track
Contracts on the first two phases were signed and construction works are carried out.
The consortium of Yapi Merkezi (Turkey) and Mota Engil Africa (Portugal) was awarded in 2017 a EUR 1.78 billion contract for the construction of Dar es Salaam – Morogoro SGR with a length of 300 km. The project is more than 60% completed. In July 2019, tests were launched on a 205-km section.
The construction works for the second phase of the SGR were launched in March 2018. The project envisages a 442-railway line from Morogoro to Makutupora which is constructed by Yapi Merkezi.
The following three phases envisage the construction of 673 km of standard gauge railway lines. They include the Makutupora –Tabora line (294 km), Tabora – Isaka (130 km) and Isaka – Mwanza (249 km).